-RBA
*Minnesota
*Duluth/North Shore
*January 8, 2009
*MNDU0901.08

-Birds mentioned
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Glaucous Gull
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Great Gray Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-billed Magpie
Boreal Chickadee
Townsend's Solitaire
Varied Thrush
Snow Bunting
Hoary Redpoll
-Transcript

Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: January 8, 2009
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 834-2858
Compiler: Jim Lind ([log in to unmask])

This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, January 8th, 2009
sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was found by Peder Svingen on the 3rd at the
junction of London Road and Superior Street, near Leif Erickson Park. I
also have a second-hand report of a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE on December
27th at the Island Lake dam north of Duluth. Allison Clarke had a
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER on the 2nd at her feeders at 226 Ridgewood Road
in east Duluth. Mike Hendrickson had a HOARY REDPOLL on the 2nd at his
feeders in Smithville in west Duluth. Sue Barton and Peder Svingen saw a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on the 4th at 26th Avenue East and Fourth Street.
Erik Bruhnke saw an adult GLAUCOUS GULL on the 8th at Canal Park, and
two immature GLAUCOUS GULLS on the 7th. Russ Sewell saw a BLACK-BILLED
MAGPIE on the 7th a mile west of Gary New-Duluth along MN Highway 23.

Mike Hendrickson saw a SNOWY OWL on the 7th at the south end of Barker's
Island in Superior and another near the cement boat near the large pile
of white rocks. The NORTHERN HAWK OWL near the Duluth International
Airport was relocated on the 8th at Rice Lake Road (CR 4) and Airport
Road. Debbie Waters reported a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on the 6th at
Jean-Duluth Road (CR 37) and the Beyer Road (CR 259), which had been
present since the 3rd.

Jan Green found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on the 2nd along Scenic Highway 61
at the Larsmont Cottages. It was relocated later in the day a mile to
the west along the MN 61 expressway at the Salakka Road but it hasn't
been seen since. Becky and Mark Lystig found a NORTHERN HAWK OWL on
December 31st along MN Highway 61 about a mile south of Beaver Bay at
the Pine Bay Loop Road. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER continues to visit
Howard Weinberg’s yard at 487 Valley Road (CR 11), as recently as the
3rd. A VARIED THRUSH was reported on the 2nd at a feeder about 4 miles
west of Finland along MN Highway 61, but I don’t have specific
directions.

Four GREAT GRAY OWLS were seen by Mike Hendrickson and others on the 7th
in the Sax-Zim Bog along the McDavitt Road (CR 213), 4 miles north of
the Sax Road (CR 28). Nate Popkin found one on the 7th along the Admiral
Road (CR 788) about 3.5 miles north of the Sax Road. Sparky Stensaas saw
one on the 5th along the Nichols Lake Road (CR 232) one mile east of CR
7. Tony Hertzel found another on the 6th less than 0.25 mile north of CR
133 on CR 7. Other recent GREAT GRAY OWL sightings have come from CR 83
near North Overton Road (CR 230), along South Townline Road (CR 442)
near CR 5, and along CR 47, 5 miles south of CR 133. There have been
several NORTHERN HAWK OWL reports along CR 7 within 0.5 mile of the Sax
Road, as well as along the Admiral Road (CR 788) 0.5 mile north of
Cranberry Drive, along the McDavitt Road about 2.5 miles north of the
Sax Road, along the Melrude Road (CR 59) just southwest of the Berg Lake
Road, and along CR 7 at Keenan Road (CR 310).

Both AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS are
being seen along the McDavitt Road, 3.5 miles north of the Sax Road. At
least three BOREAL CHICKADEES are still being seen at the “deer-rib
feeding station” along the Admiral Road (CR 788) 4 miles north of the
Sax Road. SNOW BUNTINGS continue to be seen along CR 7, especially near
the Sax Road.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, January
15th.

The telephone number of the Duluth Rare Bird Alert is 218-834-2858.
Information about bird sightings may be left following the recorded
message.

The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota
Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more
information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum, e-mail us
at [log in to unmask], or visit the MOU web site at moumn.org.